Alarmingly, Indigenous people die 15 to 20 years younger than other Australians and more than half of this health ‘gap’ is caused by chronic diseases such heart disease, stroke, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and kidney disease. 

Most chronic diseases are preventable and our Preventable Chronic Diseases Division researches ways to reduce risk factors such as smoking, prevent and treat conditions such as diabetes and chronic kidney disease, and promote healthy eating and active lifestyles in Indigenous communities.

We are researching both the causes and prevention of chronic disease and we work at all levels from influencing policy with our findings to transferring those findings into workable, everyday solutions.

Our researchers work in both clinical settings and urban and remote Indigenous communities to introduce solutions to reduce the risk and impact of chronic diseases.

To find out more about our Preventable Chronic Disease research areas please click on the research area links at left.